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Situational Irony

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Situational Irony
Ironies in “The Story of an Hour”
There are three known types of irony: dramatic, verbal, and situational. Dramatic irony is when something is understood by the reader but not grasped by the characters in the story. Verbal irony, however, is when the character in a story says one thing but means another. Lastly, situational irony is when in a situation, the actions have an effect that is opposite from what was expected or intended. In Kate Chopin’s short story “The Story of an Hour”, dramatic and situational irony are presented to show a deeper meaning in her work.
“The Story of an Hour” is the type of short story that requires to be read at least twice to catch all the ironies, and leaves the reader a bit taken back by how abruptly and how unexpectedly it ends. The first irony that is shown is
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Roberts tries to block him from the view of Mrs. Mallard but is too late, which can be associated with the fact that she dies. Kate Chopin ends the story with yet another dramatic irony, when the doctors diagnose Mrs. Mallard’s death with saying she died of joy after seeing her husband alive. Though none of the characters know what Mrs. Mallard is feeling, the reader immediately understands why she has died.
Mrs. Mallard might come across to some as a horrible person, but the truth is that there is not much said about her character as to why she would feel happy that her husband has died. Though the story is called “The Story of an Hour” it is not that long, but it is long enough to understand that Mrs. Mallard is not happy. So though at first it is unexpected that she dies at the sight of her husband, the reader soon understands that it is her troubled heart that kills her in the

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